And thence discover, how, with most advantage, A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have placed; Now do thou watch; for I can stay no longer. If thou spiest any, run and bring me word; [Exit. Son. Father, I warrant you; take you no care: I'll never trouble you, if I may spy them. Enter, in an upper chamber of a tower, the LORDS Sal. Talbot, my life, my joy, again return'd! Tal. The duke of Bedford had a prisoner, Once, in contempt, they would have barter'd me: Which I, disdaining, scorn'd, and craved death, Rather than I would be so vile-esteem'd: In fine, redeem'd I was as I desired. But, O! the treacherous Fastolfe wounds my heart! Whom with my bare fists I would execute, If I now had him brought into my power. Sal. Yet tell'st thou not how thou wert enter tain'd. Tal. With scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts. In open market-place produced they me, To be a public spectacle to all. 'Here,' said they, is the terror of the French; My grisly countenance made others fly; None durst come near for fear of sudden death. In iron walls they deem'd me not secure; So great fear of my name 'mongst them was spread, Ready they were to shoot me to the heart. Sal. I grieve to hear what torments you en dured; But we will be revenged sufficiently. Now it is supper-time in Orleans: Here, thorough this grate, I count each one, And view the Frenchmen how they fortify. Let us look in; the sight will much delight thee.— Sir Thomas Gargrave, and Sir William Glansdale, Let me have your express opinions, Where is best place to make our battery next. Gar. I think, at the north gate; for there stand lords. Glans. And I, here, at the bulwark of the bridge. Tal. For aught I see, this city must be famish'd, Or with light skirmishes enfeebled. [shot from the town. Salisbury and Sir Thomas Sal. O Lord, have mercy on us, wretched sinners! Speak, Salisbury; at least, if thou canst speak. That hath contrived this woful tragedy! Whilst any trump did sound, or drum struck up, One eye thou hast to look to heaven for grace. He beckons with his hand, and smiles on me; As who should say,- When I am dead and gone, [thunder heard; afterwards an alarum. What stir is this? What tumult's in the heavens ? Whence cometh this alarum, and the noise ? Enter MESSENGER. Mes. My lord, my lord, the French have gather'd head. The Dauphin, with one Joan la Pucelle join'd,— Is come with a great power to raise the siege. [Salisbury groans. Tal. Hear, hear, how dying Salisbury doth groan! It irks his heart, he cannot be revenged. Your hearts I'll stamp out with my horse's heels, And then we'll try what these dastard Frenchmen [Exeunt, bearing out the bodies. dare. 1 A dirty wench. SCENE V. The same. Before one of the gates. Alarum. Skirmishings. TALBOT pursueth the DAUPHIN, and driveth him in: then enter JOAN LA PUCELLE, driving Englishmen before her. Then enter TALBOT. Tal. Where is my strength, my valor, and my force? Our English troops retire; I cannot stay them: Enter LA PUcelle. Here, here she comes.- -I'll have a bout with thee; Devil, or devil's dam, I'll conjure thee: Blood will I draw on thee: 1 thou art a witch; thee. [they fight. Tal. Heavens, can you suffer hell so to prevail? My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage, And from my shoulders crack my arms asunder, But I will chastise this high-minded strumpet. Pu. Talbot, farewell; thy hour is not yet come : I must go victual Orleans forthwith. 1 He who could draw a witch's blood was supposed to be free from her power. |